Metal mesh lining



Oct. 29, 1935. G. w. BROWN 2,019,044

METAL MESH LINING Filed July 30, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 a o 0 D D I ,Ai u D o a P ll D II

& INTOR A TTORNE S.

G. W. BROWN Oct. 29, 1935.

Filed July 30, 1934 5 Sheets-:Sheet 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 50,1934 $9 I 755V VEN TOR.

W fi/wunu A TTORNES.

Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL MESH LININGApplication July 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,497

Claims.

This invention relates to leather, canvas, or similar type bags, orcases, used in the carrying or transportation of money, securities,jewelry, etc., and especially to a metal mesh lining for 5 bags of thecharacter described which will prevent cutting of the bag, or case, by aknife or like implement to remove the contents.

There are a variety of bags usually made of heavy leather which are usedto carry or transport valuables of different character. Such bags aresometimes referred to as security bags, money bags, messenger bags,etc., and while they are equipped with an elaborate locking mechanism,often requiring the use of two keys to open them,

it has been found that the sides or bottom of the bags can readily becut with a sharp knife or like implement and the contents removed.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve theconstruction and operation of bags or containers of the characterdescribed, and

particularly to provide a metal mesh lining fabricated from wire, steelstrips, chain, or a like knife resisting material so as to provide asafeguard against slashing or cutting open the container to gain accessthereto.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the metal meshlining particularly designed for insertion in bags of the so-calledBoston type.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of a Boston bag showing themetal mesh reinforcement placed and secured therein.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the metal mesh 85 lining used incontainers, such as brief cases, or

the like.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the metal mesh or mat employed in forming thelining shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the metal mesh or mat 40 employed in formingthe'liner as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Figs. 1 and 4, thenumerals 2 and 3 indicate thin strips of flexible steel laid at rightangles to each other. These strips are riveted, or

45 otherwise secured, with relation to each other at the points ofintersection as indicated at 4. The steel strips thus form a metal meshflat fabric which will hereinafter be termed a mat, and is generallyindicated at A in Fig. 4. The mat, in

50 turn, will be bent, out and shaped to form what will be termed abasket and this is generally indicated at B in Fig. 1.

Again referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the upper edge of themat is cut out at the points 55 indicated at 5 and 6.to permit freefolding of the leather at each end of the bag. The cut ends areconnected by chains 51: and 6a and by central chains 5b and 6b, theupper ends of which are riveted to the outside leather or attached tothe pivotal points 1 and 8 of the main frame, which 5 is generallyindicated at C, see Fig. 1. After the mat has been cut out and thechains attached,

it is necessary to bend the mat along the dotted lines indicated at 9,H), II and I2 to form one side I 3 of the basket, a pair of ends l4 andI5, and 10 the opposite side [6, said side being formed by overlappingor joining the free ends at the point I! and riveting or otherwisesecuring it. The, upper edges of the mat are then attached to the frameby loops of tuft wire l8, such as piano wire 15 or the like, and thelower free ends I 9 of the mat are bent inwardly to form the bottom ofthe basket, the overlying ends being riveted or secured by connectingwires or by being suitably fastened to a bottom steel plate such asshown at 20 in 20 Fig. 2. This completes the forming and assembling ofthe basket which is now inserted in the partially completed bag, thesides and bottom of which are indicated at 22 and 23 in Fig. 2. Afterinsertion the bag is sewed or otherwise se- 25 cured to the main frameC, the lining is then inserted and secured and when the bag is completedthe metal mesh becomes interposed between the outer leather or fabric ofthe bag and the lining and as such is completely concealed. 30.

The metal mesh lining does not detract from the general appearance ofthe bag but, conversely, rather improves it as the lining stifiens andreinforces the leather in the bag, thereby retaining its shape andpreventing sagging, but more important it provides a knife resistinglining, the

virtues of which should be obvious.

The bag just described is of the type known as a Boston-bag. In that bagthe only part of the leather that folds to any extent is the portion ateach end below the pivotal parts of the main frame and it is for thisreason that the upper ends of the steel strips forming the reinforcementat the ends of the bag are cut away and the chains 5a, 5b and 6a, 6bsubstituted, as such chains permit free flexing of the leather, or othermaterial from which the bag is formed.

In other types of bags, for instance in brief cases, it is necessary toform the mats in a different shape and to fit the entire mat ends withchains in order to provide more flexibility for the so-called gussetends of the brief case. In this assembly the mat is first formed in theflat, as shown in Fig. 5. It is then bent on the dotted lines indicatedat 25 and 26 to bring the sides upwardly and to form a basket ofsubstantially U-shaped form. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3, the sidesbeing indicated at 21 and 28 and the bottom at 29. This basket is thensecured to the main frame C by the wire loops in a manner similar tothat shown in Fig. 1, and the ends are connected by cross chains, suchas shown at 30. The basket when completed is finally inserted in thebrief bag and this, together with the fabric lining, is sewed in placeso that the metal mesh will become interposed between the same.

The invention so far illustrated has been more or less limited to bags,such as Boston bags, brief cases, and the like, obviously it may beinserted in suitcases, trunks, and other containers which are made of amaterial that might be cut by a knife or similar sharp implement. Thedrawings illustrate only one form of metal mesh, to-wit, steel stripsriveted with relation to each other and chains connecting the same, butobviously a wire mesh; or similar metal fabric could be employed, andwhile other features of the invention are more or less specificallydescribed and illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes mayberesorted to within the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, thatthe materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such asthe manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:-

1. In a bag or like container having a pair of .pivotally connectedframes to permit opening and closing of the container, 2.non-metallic-covering secured to the frame and forming the sides, endsand bottom of the container, said material being foldable at the upperportion of the ends to permit opening and closing of the frame, aflexible metallic mesh forming a lining for the sides and bottom of thecontainer, and metal chains forming a liner for the ends of the bag andsecured to the metal mesh.

. 2. In a bag or like container having a pair of pivotally connectedframes to permit opening and closing of the container, a non-metalliccovering secured to the frame and forming the sides, ends and bottom ofthe container, said material being foldable at the upper portion of theends to permit opening and closing of the frame, a flexible metal meshforming a lining for the sides and bottom and a portion of the ends ofthe container, and chains forming a lining at the upper foldableportions of the ends of the container.

3. A bag or like container having an exterior covering of flexible,non-metallic material and a lining of flexible metallic mesh material toprevent cutting to gain access to the interior of the container, saidmetallic mesh consisting of flat, narrow, thin steel strips disposed atright angles to each other and rigidly secured to each other at thepoints of intersection.

4. A bag or like container having a pair of pivotally connected framesto permit opening and closing of the container, a non-metallic coveringsecured to the frame and forming the sides, ends and bottom of thecontainer, said material being foldable at the upper portion of the endsto permit opening and closing of the frame, a flexible metallic meshforming a lining for said material to prevent cutting to gain access tothe interior of the container, said metallic mesh consisting of flat,narrow, thin steel strips disposed at right angles to each other andsecured at the points of intersection, the strips forming the ends ofthe bag extending up to the foldable portion only, and a plurality ofmetal chains extending crosswise of the foldable end portions of the bagand secured to the steel strips covering the sides of the bag.

5. In a bag or like container having a pair of pivotally connectedframes to permit opening and closing of the container, a non-metalliccovering secured to the frame and forming the sides, ends and bottom ofthe container, said material being foldable at the upper portion of theends to permit opening and closing of the frame, a flexible metallicmesh forming a lining for the sides and bottom of the container, metalchains forming a liner for the ends of the bag and secured to the metalmesh, and means securing both the flexible metallic mesh and the chainsto the pivotally connected frames.

GEORGE W. BROWN.

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